The Congress on Sunday slammed the State Government for the tardy progress in the infrastructural and other facility works being undertaken for the ensuing Nabakalebar festival of lord Jagannath and His siblings scheduled to be held in Puri in July this year.
Holding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the delay, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan said construction of infrastructure projects can’t be completed in time with the present pace of work.
“The State Government is not serious about the festival which is going to receive a footfall of more than 30 lakhs. Due to tardy progress, not a single Nabakalebar project has been completed. How can it (the State Government) afford to ignore such a huge gathering on the grand occasion,” Harichandan said.
Similarly, senior party leader lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohaptara blamed the Government for less than half execution of most of the projects. “The Government is always reviewing the projects and no strict timeline is followed for their completion. The major construction works, including sewerage, railway line, foot over bridge, bus terminal and electrification are running behind schedule,” he said.